23 November 2001

Disaster relief team on standby to help Afghanistan's animal casualties

In response to increasing reports of the plight of Afghanistan's animals, including those at Kabul zoo, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is preparing to mobilise an animal disaster relief team to visit the country at the earliest possible opportunity.

In the short term, WSPA has committed several thousand dollars from its disaster relief fund and is trying to find a way of getting this money into Afghanistan to enable the animals at Kabul zoo to be fed and cared for until this transitional period is over and funding from the municipality is resumed.

In Afghanistan as a whole, WSPA suspects that large numbers of livestock and other animals may have been killed or injured as a result of the conflict. It is also likely that rabies may become more of a problem, due to the increasing numbers of stray dogs in the region.

John Walsh, WSPA international projects director, said, "The current crisis in Afghanistan has become a terrible tragedy for the people of the region and their animals. In situations like this, WSPA has a long track record in working to address the problems facing the livestock and pet animal populations. During the previous conflict in Afghanistan, a WSPA team visited the Kabul zoo and provided medical treatment for the animals there. WSPA is committed to doing all it can to alleviate their suffering now."

One of the world's largest animal protection charities, with over 400 member societies in more than 90 countries, WSPA is the only animal welfare organisation to have consultative status at the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

-ends-

For additional information please contact:

Anne Lloyd-Jones, WSPA, on (02) 9902 8006 or 0404 066 498 during business hours, or e-mail annelj@wspa.org.au.